Every seven to ten years, Nikon updates its top-of-the-line, flagship lenses with the most current technology and tries to push the performance envelope of new lenses to their new technical limits. We have been waiting for this update for a long time and Nikon finally delivered the new AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR. As expected, this lens looks absolutely stunning in every way. Nikon completely redesigned the lens from the ground up and delivered a true stunner – the new 70-200mm f/2.8 now features a fluorite element to make it roughly 100 grams lighter (which is a huge achievement for this type of a lens). The lens is now of “E” type with an electronic diaphragm, instead of the traditional mechanical lever to change aperture. Vibration Reduction / Image Stabilization has been reworked and vastly improved over its predecessor, with up to 4 stops of compensation. The lens is now comprised of a total of 22 elements, with all the latest coating technologies, including Nano and fluorine coating applied to lens elements, with lens optimized for incredible sharpness across the frame. And based on improvements towards maximum reproduction ratio, it looks like Nikon took efforts to significantly reduce the focus breathing issue that was present on the VR II version of the lens. All this does not come cheap though – the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR will retail for $2,799.95 MSRP, which is $400 higher than what its predecessor sold at when it was announced.
Pushing performance even higher is already a challenge for a lens like the 70-200mm f/2.8, which has always been one of Nikon’s reference lenses. And it looks like Nikon did again manage to tweak the sharpness on the new 70-200mm f/2.8E VR compared to its predecessor. Take a look at the below MTF charts of the two at 70mm (Left: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR, Right: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II):
Here, we can see that the new design is optimized towards yielding more even performance on the 70-200mm f/2.8E VR – the lens starts out a hair worse in the center, but look at how much better the lens looks outside the center frame. The lens looks vastly better in comparison to its predecessor there. Even the extreme edges look slightly better in comparison. Contrast is also improved on the new lens, with much more even performance, especially towards the edges of the frame.
When we look at the telephoto side of things, it appears that Nikon really put a lot of effort into making this lens shine at its longest focal length. At 200mm, the lens is remarkably good, with the sharpness curve approaching those of the exotic super telephoto lenses. Contrast is amazing from the center to the extreme edges of the frame, whereas sharpness is exceptional in the center and the mid-frame, with slightly diminishing performance towards the edges of the frame. And keep in mind – this is all at f/2.8! Imagine what kind of performance one can get out of this lens when stopped down to f/4-f/5.6 range…
I also expect the bokeh of the lens to be spectacular, not just based on the MTF, but also on the fact that the lens does not have a single aspherical lens element. While aspherical lenses significantly reduce spherical aberration, thus vastly improving sharpness, they are the cause of ugly onion-shaped bokeh on many lens designs. The new 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR is designed to be a versatile lens that is highly desirable by portrait photographers, so Nikon will do its magic to make sure that the lens does not disappoint.
Here is the optical construction of the lens, which shows the single Fluorite lens element in front of the lens:
Now one potentially disappointing aspect of the lens design is the fact that using the fluorite lens element really did not shave much off the overall weight of the lens, which is something many of us were hoping to see – Nikon managed to only cut the overall weight of the lens by roughly 100 grams. However, one has to understand that such a complex lens with so many lens elements cannot have half of its lens elements comprised of fluorite glass. Typically, the front lens element is the one that gets replaced with a fluorite lens element, which is usually the biggest and the heaviest element on super telephoto lenses. That’s why we have seen significant weight savings on lenses such as the 400mm f/2.8E. On the 70-200mm, however, the front lens element is not what makes up the bulk of the weight of the lens – there are many more lens elements scattered throughout the lens and the lens barrel is made of heavy duty metal. If Nikon were to cut more weight from the lens, it would have to come out of the lens barrel, which would compromise the build quality of the lens. Personally, I would not want to buy a lens that would break in half the first time it is dropped. The 70-200mm f/2.8 is built to be a workhorse lens for busy pros and there cannot be any design compromises.
As with other latest generation lenses, the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR sports both Nano coating to reduce ghosting and flare, and fluorine coating to reduce dust and water drops from collecting on the front element.
Based on the fact that the maximum reproduction ratio has been increased almost back to what it used to be, it looks like the new 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR will not have the same focus breathing problem as its predecessor – we should see far less of this effect, probably fairly close to what the original 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR used to be. I cannot confirm 100% that the lens will be completely free from focus breathing, but based on what I am seeing, it should be much more tolerable.
What I am not so sure about is the reversal of the focus and zoom rings. This will surely throw a lot of people off who are used to the traditional 70-200mm design and it might take time to get used to the new way to handle the lens. I’ll bet that, with the introduction of the fluorite lens element, the lens is no longer that front heavy, which might work out at the end, but that is something we still need to test and see. I hope it is not a deal breaker, since I would only want to handle the lens where the zoom ring is. Holding the lens by the focus ring might be a recipe for a disaster, since that might screw up focusing.
Overall, the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR looks really good, so I am hoping to test it as soon as it becomes available. At $2,800 it is not a cheap lens by any means, but let’s not forget that this lens is a money maker for many working professionals out there. If I were a busy wedding photographer, I would not hesitate to invest in such stellar glass.
Didn’t they release a new version about a year and a half ago?
JD, you are probably thinking about the 70-200mm f/4 version. The older 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II came out 7 years ago.
Even then that was 4 years ago (70-200 f4). I think the person is thinking of the 200-500.
24-70mm f/2.8 E
Wow..just when I thought I can save money to buy some food…here comes a stunner!!
LOL :) GAS is hard to resist, but we must try!
I don’t need this lens. I don’t need this lens. I don’t need this lens! But my wallet would get so much lighter LOL!
Hi,
Iets admit ,Nikon is making a great move.
Starting with 105/1.4 , now with the 70-200 and the 19.
In the last years Nikon was a head on the bodies and Canon on the Lens.
Nikon now seems focused on taking the leads on the lens , while canon released a 5D MK4 , that even hard core canon fan boys can’t fully praise.
I am happy with my D810 for one more year if this glass options are just going to increase
Yair
Agree whole-heartedly with your statement, although I am deeply concerned with the changed focus/zoom ring positions… the VR2 it completely second nature in it’s functionality.
You’ve just found the weight saving that you were looking for Nasim! It’s in your wallet, not the lens itself! An overall weight saving is better than no saving, right? ;)
Prices rise like crazy, nearly double the price of the version 1 which was really state of the art at that moment. I think now Nikon sales are going down all Nikon can do is rising the prices…
The cost is down to the materials used, the large cf2 element, 6 ultra low dispertion elements, 1 highest refractive index lens RI = 2+ (similar RI to diamond). Cost 70 times normal optical glass cost. Special coatings for each type of glass to balance color, then the nano coatings, then the anti-dust easy clean coatings.
This lens is state of the art, probably the best zoom lens Nikon has ever made.
PS. NASIM ASPHERICS DONT CAUSE ONION RING BOKEH, ITS CAUSED BY THE MOULDING PROCESS SO GROUND ASPHERICS DONT HAVE THEM.
PPS. I LOVE YOUR WRITING AND SITE.
TBH I can’t see me ever parting company with my VRII version.
Nasim,
thank you for the “heads up”. This is why I follow your comments.
I am just getting back into serious photography. I bought the Nikon D810 5 weeks ago – I has taken me many, many hours to master most of the camera’s features. And, your comments back in 2014 were a big help.
Two weeks ago, I purchased the original Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ( version i) lens for $890. The lens was lightly used and in flawless condition. The images its generates are wonderful.
Nasim, if you follow up with this announcement, might it be possible for you to do a comparative analysis of all 3 lenses ( versions i, ii and now iii) by taking photos of the same subject at the same time and showing us the different results. There must be differences (improvements) because Nikon would not have persisted with its 70-200 development project if none were obtained.
Regards,
peter
Hi Nasim,
Love your blog. I agree with prepalaw. I also have the original version and it would be interesting to see a 3 lens comparison between them.
Thanks, Curt
Carried away (a bit), Nasim?
It looks like you were carried away by your enthusiasm, saying “We have been waiting for this update for a long time…” right after stating that the normal replacement rhythm is “seven to ten years.“ The new lens is actually two months and three days shy of seven years, the previous version having been announced on Dec. 22, 2009… :-)
Which does not make it easier to resist…
All the best.
If the MTF charts are right, it is an improvement but not a HUGE one. I’ll keep my VRII model. I understand the decision to bring out an update, but not the price rise. If they had made the front to elements fluorite, like they did with the 400, they would have reduced the weight much more. 100g is not much of a reduction at all.
I have the VR 2 and I’ll be staying with it barring the unexpected influx of money. Just as I think my D800e is stellar. If I have to run to the camera store every time Nikon puts out a new toy I’ll be bankrupt. A new D810 or the latest version of this lens may be incrementally better according to test charts but creating beautiful photographs isn’t that easy.
I agree.
I stayed with the D800E and the 70-200 VRII and will keep them both until the D820/900 is released…then it’s going to get expensive.
That’s exactly what we all need. An even more expensive lens! Good job nikon! Keep going!
My eyes are watering already.
Must have it.
Sigh..
Considering the lineage it will be strange if this is not one of the sharpest, well-made and useful lenses you can buy. The shaving of 100g is welcome, although it is weird that now the zoom ring has moved to the front for ‘better balance’. Surely this lens balances closer to the body now with the fluorite element (?). Anyway, anyone who has a company expense budget to pay £2500 for the latest model will be delighted. For the rest of us in need of that range, new 80-200 AFDs look mighty tempting at £800, as does the Tamron at £900, and with luck the VRis should now come down to below £900 and VRiis hopefully near £1200 2nd hand.
I think Sigma are probably watching this announcement and rubbing their hands together with joy… the door is now firmly open for a Sigma ‘Art’ 70-200 f/2.8 priced under $2k.
I was somewhat excited with the announcement on the 70-200, more excited on the 14mm PC lens though. That 70-200 has a hefty price tag and I would be interested to see how the Focal breathing works out as well, when you test it. I am stoked to read your hand-on review when it comes available. Unless it is a world of difference, this new release may allow me to get a used 70-200 present generation for a decent price.
The price is fine, and less weight is welcome. Just no need to upgrade. I just repaired mine and it’s back to perfect working order.
What the devil is ‘focus breathing’?
Actually focal length breathing is more the problem with the previous model. At closest focus the focal length was more like 135mm.
Which makes it a fab portrait lens!
A very fair point. I think we have to realise that the Nikon engineers would have been well aware of the breathing issue when they designed the VR2; it certainly would not have been an unforeseen feature. I wonder if the breathing also occurs at the short end of the zoom range, and you get an even more useful 50-200 lens?
‘Focus breathing’ is a phenomenon whereby some lenses fail to maintain their effective focal length as they are focussed from infinity to minimum focus distance.
Thus in the case of the Nikon 70-200mm at closest focus the effective focal length is a good deal short of 200mm.
Apparently a bigger stickler than the price is the reversal of zoom and focus rings. Nobody seems to like it, at all.
Apparently a bigger stickler than the price is the fact that Nikon has reversed the focus and zoom ring placement. Nobody seems to like it. At all.
Agreed. Actually I simulated it on the current VR II version, pretending the zoom ring was the focus ring, and it does really feel awkward.
when will we see some hands on test results? will this version be as durable as the vrII?
I have the VR II and absolutely love it. Curious to see how this new version handles, but I am concerned about the reversed zoom and focus rings. Mounted on a monopod, it probably doesn’t matter, but handholding may be an issue. I can see how one’s hand placement may accidentally change the focus. This would be a deal breaker for me.
Is it made in Japan or PRC
Nikons only weakness that I am aware of is the poor autofocus of their bodies in live view (which same technological limitation would affect their ability to produce mirrorless cameras with rapid autofocus). Otherwise Nikon are firing on all cylinders, as suggested with the recent 105mm f/1.4 and now this new 70-200mm which responds to the focus breathing issue of its predecessor. My D750 and D810 are extraordinary.
Nikkor 70-200mm f4 ed vr or Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 fl ed vr with Nikon 810?
Kindly guide.